US1861204A - Electrical controller system - Google Patents

Description

May 31, 1932- J. A. BERRIAN 1,861,204

ELECTRICAL CONTROLLER SYSTEM Filed y 24, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR JA. BERR/AN qlliu di' ATTORNE Y y 3 J. A. BERRLAN 1,861,204

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AT RNEY Patented May 31, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN A. BERRIAN, OF DADE CITY, FLORIDA, ASSIGNOR TO BELL TELEPHONE LABORA- TORIES', INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK ELECTRICAL CONTROLLER SYSTEM Application filed May 24,

This invention relates to control systems and more particularly to a device for checking the movement of a controller arm.

Various types of checking devices for controllers have been provided in electrical systems for preventing too rapid increase in the application of current to electrical devices. Some of such known devices employ a complicated mechanism comprising a series of magnets controlled by current as it is built up in the windings of said magnets when connected in circuits extending through the controller contacts for positively preventmg destructive surges of current. Other known 15.:devices comprise latches for the controller arm which are designed to prevent too rapid movement of the arm but which are capable of being moved rapidly if an operator desires such operation. In a majority of the latter devices a spring latch is operable at the controller arm when this arm is in any of its various positions and the arm may be freely moved over positions at which it would ordinarily be stopped. In certain elec- 5-trical systems a controller, which can only be manipulated in a manner to prevent current surges, is required although such electrical system may be of a nature which would not warrant the use of a complicated mechasonism.

The object of this invention is therefore to provide a simple checking device for multiposition circuit controllers which may be re leased for movement of the controller arm only when said controller arm is abutting the checking device.

One embodiment of the present invention comprises a transformer arranged to reduce 110 volts alternating current for lighting a 30 volt, 900 watt projection lamp in a sound film reproducing system in which the windings of the transformer are connected to multi-position controller contacts preferably attached to said transformer. The movement of the controller arm must be carefully regulated in order to prevent destruction of this lamp which has a filament of negligible resistance until it has been heated. Therefore, a device is provided which positively insures a momentary stop at certain of the contacts 1930. Serial No. 455,445.

to which the transformer windings are con nected. During this momentary stop the filament becomes suiiiciently heated to permit advancing the controller arm to the next contact. For this purpose a spring controlled detent is located in the head of the trans former casing. This detent is not connected in any way to the controller arm and is only operable after the controller arm has abutted the detent. A manually operable spring released button is attached to and carried with the controller arm so that when the controller abuts the detent this button may be depressed for moving the detent downwardly in order to permit further movement of the controller arm.

Referring to the illustrated embodiment, Figs. 1 and 2 show the controller arm mounted in position on the end of atransformer casing. Fig. 3 shows details of the controller arm and Fig. 1 the spring arrangement for the controller arm latching mechamsm.

Three views of the controller arm have been shown in Fig. 5, a, Z), and c to properly illustrate the method of operating the controller arm stops or latches.

Figs. 6 and 7 show the contact head and switching arrangement operated by the controller arm and F ig. 8 shows the transformer coils as associated with the contacts of F ig. 6.

The disclosure to be described herein has been chosen as the controlling apparatus as sociated with a transformer for supplying current to a projection lamp in a motion picture system. The transformer head is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 with the controller arm 10 attached to shaft 12 by thumb nut 13, thus setting the controller arm in its proper relation to the switch brushes 30, 31, 32 and 83 as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. Fig. 1, further shows the relative position of the contact base 14 to the transformer head 15 and controller arm 10. The contact base 14 is fastened to the transformer head through the agency of screws 17. The controller arm latches or stops a3 and 24 are mounted in the transformer head on spring 25 which is fastened to the inner side ofthe transformer head by screws 26 and 27 as shown in Fig. 4.

In the specific embodiment disclosed herein the purpose of the transformer arm stops is to prevent too rapid an increase of current through the filament of lamp 60, shown in Fig. 8. The plug 61 of Fig. 8 is used for connecting the controlling unit and transformer to a power source. This power source is extended over one conductor to the upper end of the primary transformer coil 66, the other conductor being connected through the switching contacts. The switch of Fig. 6 is shown in its normal position in full lines and in position 1 in dotted lines. It will be noted that brushes 30 and 32 are alternately associated with their respective connections as the switch is advanced. By referring to Fig. 7 it will be noted that separate two section brushes are shown each side of shaft 12. The switch brushes 30 and 31 are held in position on insulating block 52 by bolts 53. The brushes 32 and 33 are held in position on this insulating block by bolts 51. The insulating block is held in position on the shaft through the agency of pin 56.

Let it now be assumed that the controller arm 10 is turned from its normal position for associating brush 31 with contact 40. In this position of the controller arm extension 18 abuts detent 23. In position 1 with brush 31 resting on contact 40, brush 30 is posi tioned upon the metal ring 35. The transformer coil 64 which is connected to contact 40 is connected to coil 63 through brushes 30 and 31 which establishes a circuit from one side of the power source through coil 63, metal ring 35, contact 40, transformer coils 64, and 66 to the alternate side of said power source. It might be stated at this time that transformer coils 64 and 65 are of high resistance and when placed in series with coil 66 permit a very small current flow through the secondary transformer coil 67 and thus establish a very small flow of current through lamp 60. The resistance of lamp 60 is practically zero when cold. This resistance, however, rapidly increases upon the application of a small amount of current thereto. Therefore, regardless of the high resistance of coil 64 surficient current flows through the lamp to heat it to some extent and increase its resistance. In order to allow time for the resistance of the lamp to properly advance the controller arm 10 is latched when brushes 30 and 31 are brought to rest upon terminal 40.

The movement of the controller arm for advancing the brushes from their normal position to the first contact is shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 5a illustrates the controller arm in its normal position with extension 18 a distance removed from detent 23. Fig. 5b shows extension 18 of the controller arm abutting detent 23. In this position of the controller arm the brush 31 is resting on terminal 40. In order to advance the controller arm for positioning the brushes upon the next sue ceeding contact detent 23 must be pressed downwardly. This is accomplished by depressing the cylindrical button 20 against the pressure of spring 21. lVhen this button comes into contact with detent 23, the detent is pushed downwardly against the pressure of spring 25. The operator of the controller arm may depress the button 20 with his thumb and at the same time press with the hand against the controller arm for moving extension 18 over the top of detent 23. This operation is best shown by the position of the cylindrical button 20 and extension 18 in Fig. 50. It will be noted that the detent 23 has been moved below the bottom edge of extension 18 and the extension 18 is in position for further movement of the controller arm. The button 20 is then released and the controller arm moved for positioning brush 33 upon terminal 41 which will be known as position 2. At this time brush 32 is resting upon the circular metal ring 34 and the extension 18 is abutting detent 24.

In position 2 a circuit is established from the power source through coil 62, circular metal ring 34, contact 41, primary windings 65 and 66 of the transformer to the alternate side of the power source. The winding 64 is thus eliminated from the circuit and the current consequently increased in the secondary transformer winding 67 and in the filament of lamp 60. Detent 24 is now pressed downwardly by the cylindrical button 20 in the same manner as described for detent 23. The controller arm 10 is moved so that extension 18 rides over the top of detent 24. The brush 33 is thus moved away from contact 41. Further movement of the controller arm asso-- ciates brush 31 with contact 42. In this position of the switch a circuit is established from the power source through resistance winding 63, circular metal ring 35, contact 42, primary winding 66 of the transformer to the alternate side of the power source. At this time the filament of lamp 60 has increased sufficiently in resistance to endure rapid increases in current strength. The controller arm may, therefore, be rotated rapidly to a point for properly illuminating the lamp 60. As the brushes are rotated under the control of the controller arm a circuit is alternately established through the brushes on each side of the shaft 12, each succeeding position illuminating windings of the primary coil 66 of the transformer.

Referring again to Fig. 5a, b and c, it will be noted that there is not any possible manner of operation by which the controller arm may be freely moved through the contact positions at which it should be momentarily stopped. If the cylindrical button 20 is held down by an operator desiring free movement of the arm, this button will abut detent 23 if the arm is started from its normal position or will abut detent 24 if held down after passing detent 23. It would thus readily be found by the operator of an electrical system having this controller arm and latching arrangement, that the arm could be moved through its cycle only by a sequence of operations positively controlled by mechanical devices to establish successive circuits through the contacts associated therewith.

It is apparent that the invention disclosed herein is applicable to many systems and should not be limited to the specific embodiment shown.

What is claimed is:

1. In a controller, a rotatable arm and hub member arranged to operate said controller, a secondary member connected to said hub member in a different radial position than said arm and rotatable therewith, a spring supported resilient detent mounted in the face of said controller for arresting the rotation of said arm and hub member, a fixed extension on said secondary member arranged to abut said detent, and a push but ton on said secondary member free to operate at all times but only effective for pushing said detent out of the path of said extension when said member has been rotated to a point where said extension abuts said detent.

2. In a controller, a rotatable arm and hub member arranged to operate said controller, a secondary member connected to said hub member in a different radial position and on a different horizontal level than said arm, said secondary member being rotatable with said arm and hub member, a spring supported resilient detent mounted in the face of said controller for arresting the rotation of said arm and hub member, a fixed extension on said secondary member arranged to abut said detent, and a push button on said secondary member free to operate at all times but only effective for pushing said detent out of the path of said extension when said member has been rotated to a point where said extension abuts said detent.

3. In a controller, a rotatable arm and hub member arranged to operate said controller, a secondary member connected to said hub member in a different radial position than said arm and rotatable therewith, a plurality of spring supported resilient detents mounted in the face of said controller, each so constructed as to stop the movement of the arm and hub member when rotated in one direction and permit free rotation of the arm and hub member in the opposite direct-ion, a fixed extension on said secondary member arranged to abut said detents when said mem ber is moved in one direction and slide over said detents when moved in the opposite direction, and a push button on said secondary member free to operate at all times but only effective for pushing said detents out of the

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